Royal Recorders
Price range: $0.00 through $199.00
Become a Knight in the Royal Recorder kingdom! Earn your way into the castle with song challenges and celebrate your achievements as you successfully pass 13 knight levels to become a Super Knight.
Original songs and fresh arrangements of traditional tunes provide a variety of musical styles and tons of fun for recorder players from beginner to advanced skill levels. Songs are introduced with a sequential presentation of new elements creating strong musical foundations and supporting student success as they progress through the program.
Accompaniment tracks create the “magic”, motivating students to play songs over and over again by making even the simplest two-note song sound great. More advanced students enjoy playing with musical arrangements that enhance their performing efforts.
Teachers are thrilled with the Teacher Guide packed with everything they require to develop a recorder program with their students. The Teacher Guide includes instructions and hints for starting a recorder program, introductory lesson plans, explanations for how to use the motivational Class Castles and Knight Certificates, student tracking sheets, teaching strategies for every song, extension activities, and organizational charts for MP3 tracks and songs in the program.
Royal Recorders is supported with performing videos featuring Student “Knights” and can be viewed below.
Royal Recorders books include:
- Student Book 1 (43 pages)(Levels 1-7)
- Student Book 2 (49 pages)(Levels 8-13)
- Teacher Guide (176 pages)
Student Book 1:
- Song challenges for Levels 1-7 (22 songs)
- Explanations for each new musical element presented
- Practicing tips
- Composing opportunities (at three different Knight levels)
- Note-naming Challenges (student practice pages)
- Care and maintenance of the recorder
- Fingering chart
- Completion certificate
Student Book 2:
- Provides continued development for second-year students and more advanced players
- Song challenges for levels 8-13 (23 songs)
- Explanations for each new element presented
- Practice tips
- Composing opportunities (at two different Knight levels)
- Note-naming Challenges (student practice pages)
- Recorder care and maintenance
- Fingering chart
- Completion certificate
Teacher Guide:
- Teaching strategies to prepare and practice each song
- Lesson plans for introducing recorder to your students
- How to use motivational Class Castles and Knight Certificates
- Tables for tracking student progress
- Accompaniment tracks information chart (intros, outros, style, speed, etc.)
- Chart with songs listed alphabetically
Accompaniment Tracks:
- Various styles
- Practice speed for all songs (slower tempo)
- Performance speed for all songs
See more details in the “Description” section below!
Share this page using these social links!
Royal Recorders
Royal Recorders Student Book 1 is part of a motivational recorder teaching method created for students (grades 4-6) learning to play recorder in elementary school music programs, private music classes, or homeschools. Students are excited and motivated to play the recorder when teachers use the Royal Recorders teaching method.
The Royal Recorders teaching method is fantastic for beginners of all ages and comprehensive enough to use for a two-to-three-year recorder program, with upper levels that challenge advanced players.
Beginning recorder players enjoy playing the Royal Recorders songs that are created to maximize success from the very beginning of the program. There are seven Knight levels in Book 1 presenting new notes and musical elements in 3-4 songs at each level. Songs are simple, musical and interesting. Students play each short song, ensuring that new notes are thoroughly learned before moving on to new musical elements. Students are motivated as each small success is celebrated. These small steps create a strong foundation and promote rapid achievement and improvement.
Accompaniment tracks in a variety of styles (available as downloads) provide support and musical interest, motivating students to play songs multiple times. Accompaniment tracks are offered with a practice speed, supporting the early stages of the students’ efforts. A performance speed track is also provided for performances or as an added challenge in regular class activities.
- Song challenges for Levels 1-7 (22 songs)
- Explanations for each new musical element presented
- Practicing tips
- Composing opportunities (at three different Knight levels)
- Note-naming Challenges (practice pages)
- Care and maintenance of the recorder
- Fingering chart
- Completion certificate
Songs Include:
(* Original songs by Donna Rhodenizer)
G and A All Day *
He B G Bees *
Baa, Baa, Baa *
One, Two, Skip a Few*
Big Bad G *
Flamenco Flair *
Up and Down *
BAG of Surprises *
Fais dodo - French Folk Song
Over Easy *
Blues-E *
Skin and Bones - Camp Song
Go for a Stroll *
Old MacDonald – Traditional
There's a Hole in My Bucket – Traditional
Lady of the Red Castle *
À la claire fontaine - French Folk Song
Jolly Minstrels *
Day is Done - Camp Song
Cabbage Soup *
Ode to Joy – Beethoven
Oh When the Saints – Traditional
Royal Recorders Student Book 2 is part of a motivational teaching method created for students (grades 4-6) learning to play recorder in elementary school music programs, private music classes, or homeschools. Students are excited and motivated to play recorder when playing songs in the Royal Recorders teaching method.
Students with foundational recorder playing skills (e.g. having completed Royal Recorders Book 1) will enjoy the song challenges presented in Student Book 2. Six Knight levels provide a total of 23 songs, adding new notes and musical elements in a sequential progression. The sequential introduction of skills and step-by step presentation of new notes and theory promote rapid progress and improvement until a very high level of playing proficiency is achieved.
Songs include well-known folk and traditional tunes, classical works, and Donna Rhodenizer’s original songs. Longer songs, more complex forms, plus the addition of stylistic elements such as phrasing and dynamics, add to the musicality of the Book 2 repertoire. A wider range of notes expands the complexity as well as the variety of songs offered. At the conclusion of all 13 Royal Recorders levels, students should be able to play simple music written in C, F, G, D and A major and their relative minor keys. Their foundational understanding of music theory and reading notes also makes them well prepared as they move on to band programs.
Students have two opportunities to create an original composition. Applying theory they have learned and using their playing skills to play an original composition creates ownership and a real sense of purpose within the context of learning to play the recorder.
Accompaniment tracks in a variety of styles (available as downloads) provide support and musical interest, motivating students to play songs multiple times. Two tracks are provided: a practice speed, supporting the early stages of playing, and a performance speed for concerts or as an added challenge in regular class activities. The accompaniment tracks are particularly useful at this advanced level when students are providing complex and musical contributions at community events and concerts.
Provides continued development for second-year students and more advanced players
- Song challenges for levels 8-13 (23 songs)
- Explanations for each new element presented
- Practice tips
- Composing opportunities (at two different Knight levels)
- Note-naming Challenges (practice pages)
- Recorder Care and Maintenance
- Fingering chart
- Completion certificate
Songs Include:
(* Original songs by Donna Rhodenizer)
Moravian Folk Tune - Folk song
Still Waters *
Twilight *
Morning - Grieg
Birch Tree (duet) - Tchaikovsky
Sharp as a Tack *
English Melody - Kingsfold
Merry Branle - Arbeau
C Major Scale - Baroque style
Scarborough Fair - English ballad
My Paddle - Embers McGee
What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor? - Trad. Sea Shanty
Music Alone Shall Live (canon) - Folk song
Un Canadien Errant (duet) - Gérin-Lajoie/arr. Rhodenizer
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot - Spiritual
Let’s Catch a Rooster (canon) - Trad.
Donna’s Aire *
Scotland the Brave - Trad.
Down by the Sally Gardens - Folk song
Ash Grove - Trad.
Celtic Winter *
Early One Morning - Folk song
Little Burnt Potato - Trad./Boyd
Teacher Guide includes - Teaching strategies to prepare and practice each song - 6 lesson plans for introducing recorder to your students - How to use motivational Class Castles and Knight Certificates - Tables for tracking student progress - MP3 accompaniment tracks information chart (intros, outros, style, speed, etc.) - Chart with songs listed alphabetically.
Royal Recorders Teacher Guide supports teachers as they use the Royal Recorders motivational recorder teaching method created for students (grades 4-6) learning to play recorder in elementary school music programs, private music classes, or homeschools. Students are excited and motivated to play the recorder when teachers use the Royal Recorders teaching method.
The Royal Recorders teaching method is fantastic for beginners of all ages and comprehensive enough to use for a two-to-three-year recorder program, with upper levels that challenge advanced players. Students are engaged and eager, working their way through 13 Knight levels of the Royal Recorders program, learning 45 songs along the way. They also compose five of their own compositions using the notes and theory they have learned.
Comprehensive Teaching Method
Teachers are supported as they teach recorder with this comprehensive teaching method. The step-by-step approach of Royal Recorders, with sequential presentation of new notes and musical elements, promotes rapid achievement and improvement. Students are excited to play and love celebrating their success with each new song.
Teaching Strategies and Lesson Plans
The teacher guide is like having a personal mentor
- 30 pages of suggestions and teaching strategies for every step in the recorder teaching process.
- Detailed foundational lesson plans give the teacher the tools they need to provide solid instruction for beginner recorder players.
- Specific "prepare and practice activities" are provided for new elements as they are introduced in each Knight level.
- See the Teacher Guide Table of Contents here
Composing hints and teaching strategies
- Teachers are supported as they lead students through composing activities.
- Guidelines and composing strategies aid the teacher as they encourage students to use what they know to create their own compositions. This is an empowering exercise for young musicians.
The Teacher Guide has 176 pages packed with support for the teacher:
- Teaching strategies
- Composing hints and strategies
- Classroom management tips
- Foundational lesson plans
- Activities to prepare and practice new elements appearing in the song challenges
- Printable certificates
- Incentives (class castles, Knight certificates)
- Student tracking charts
- Printable student pages (certificates, note-naming sheets, etc.)
- Fingering charts
- All student pages are included in the Teacher Guide for easy reference
Print Copy of the Teacher Guide is available on Amazon
Print copies are available on Amazon.
Get Your Student Book 1 Student Book 2 Teacher Guide
Go to Donna's Amazon Author Page to see more of Donna's books.
MP3 accompaniment tracks are central to the delivery of the Royal Recorders program.
- Accompaniments (in a variety of styles) add excitement to the foundational, simple 2-note songs. See student recorder playing videos below.
- Accompaniments provide support for more difficult songs
- Each song has two accompaniment tracks; a slower practice speed track and a faster speed accompaniment track for performances.
Permission is given to download MP3s in the best format for you AND your students (phones, computers, Google Classroom, etc.). Students are encouraged to use these tracks outside of class time as well.Royal recorders
For a long time, I taught recorder by rote. My students learned the mechanics of how to play and letter names were used to “notate” simple quarter and half note songs. Students were excited to be able to play songs but they were really learning to do so by rote or by ear. I was job sharing with a teacher who discovered Recorder Karate. The students learned simple songs and for each song they were able to play, they were rewarded with karate belts. They were very proud to have a variety of coloured tassles hanging from their recorders.
This program inspired me to create my own songs and a more comprehensive, foundational series of songs to develop both note reading and mechanical facility with the recorder. Living in Kings county, Nova Scotia made it a natural fit to move into the world of castles and knights. Students were given song challenges with the immediate reward of adding their name to a class castle each time they had mastered a song. Three songs resulted in receiving the designation of a knight, with different colours for each level. They received a certificate and a flag (tassle) for their recorder. With three songs for every level, now the students learned more songs with each new note and their skill level deepened and became much more internalized.
Students were excited to see all the names that were being added to the class castles. In order to achieve the right to add their names, testing of songs was required. Students knew that they really had to play the song correctly in order to pass the song challenge. Students started asking peers for help outside of class time. Outside on the playground, the sound of recorders could be heard at every recess and noontime break. Students were asking their friends to help them learn songs they had heard in higher levels, but that we had not started in class. Clandestine peer-to-peer teaching was taking place and the students thought they were getting away with something. I was delighted. They were taking charge of their own learning and they wanted MORE songs!
I usually begin recorders in grade 4 and finish with them in grade 5. My students were excited about the songs they were playing and when they learned all the songs I thought we could cover in two years, they were still asking for more. I think I expanded the number of knight levels and the difficulty of the pieces three times before I arrived at the final iteration of Royal Recorders as it is today. When I had grade 6 students added to my teaching responsibilities the students were delighted to have the opportunity to play recorders for another year. We played duets, we added alto recorders, we had students learn O Canada in a three part arrangement and they were invited to play for the annual teacher’s retirement banquet. That was a real honour, and even more amazing since most people think recorders are only good for playing Hot Cross Buns and that they sound terrible. My group of top grade 6s did an amazing job and the audience was blown away. What a great success story!
There are many, many recorder stories I could tell, but I will close with two more. Firstly, My students loved playing with the accompaniment tracks. They make even simple two-note songs sound great and it is motivating to play when it sounds good. I knew this was going to be a hit when we played the song “He B G Bees” and as the final notes of the accompaniment faded away, a student asked, “Can we play it again?” Now THAT is music to the music teacher’s ear!
As the program developed and more and more students wanted to play song challenge tests, it became clear that I couldn’t keep up with testing individual students at recess and noon. There were just too many kids ready and anxious to play and not enough time to hear them all. We came up with the plan that students could submit a playing test via video. The beauty of this system was that I could listen to playing tests at home (with my feet up and sitting by the fire), I could listen to a test more than once if needed, I had time to give productive feedback, and students were taking time at home to prepare their video tests. Their families heard them practicing and helped with the videos and therefore became involved in the music development of the students. Siblings, parents and grandparents were pressed into service as camera assistants and they also weighed in on whether or not they thought the song was ready to present. I know that students did many video takes before settling on the one they would submit (that is called practicing!) and they were very proud to submit their videos. One day I got an email from a mom who was anxiously awaiting the results from a playing test that had been submitted. She emailed me to ask about the results of the song challenge. She just couldn’t wait until the end of the school day to hear if “they” had passed. When kids are supported at home and they know that what they are doing has worth, it is truly inspiring to see what can be accomplished.
I love teaching recorder. I love seeing the kids being excited when they can play fast songs, beautiful songs, tricky songs and to play them well. I love seeing them so motivated to play and learn and to add to their knowledge. What a great gift that is. They make my castle an exciting place to be!
Note-naming Worksheets (challenges) are designed as a 1-2 minute speed activity for the beginning or end of music class. The challenge of beating your own best score keeps things fun (sort of!) and the briefness of the activity keeps students from feeling frustrated when they are impatient to get to the recorder playing part of music class. Note-naming challenges are included in Student Book 1 and Student Book 2. Encourage students to do their challenges at home for even quicker improvement. Extra printable note-naming worksheets / challenges (student practice pages) are available here.
Fingering charts are included in Student Book 1 and 2 as well as the Teacher Guide. However, sometimes an extra copy comes in handy. Check out the free downloadable fingering chart here.
There is also information to help teachers and students determine if they are using an English/Baroque recorder or a German recorder. This information is important because the high and low F and F# fingerings are played differently on each of these recorders.
Find information about English/Baroque recorder or German recorders here.
There are two types of recorders: English/Baroque or German. The hole sizes vary between these two recorder types and that affects which fingerings should be used for certain notes (specifically F and F#).
For information about how to identify which recorder you are using, go here.
Information about ordering recorders, what brand to choose, and how to care for your recorder is available as a PDF download here.
Check out some of the Royal Recorders Knights / student recorder playing performances below.
When you have enjoyed seeing the videos and learning about the Royal Recorders Program - please drop by again and leave a Review on this page. Thanks!
Please send us your performance videos - we might be able to post them on this page!
Enjoy these Royal Recorders playing videos!
Watch these video samples of students (Royal Recorders Knights) (or Donna) playing each song in the Royal Recorders program with the performance-speed accompaniment tracks. The printed music is included in the video so you can have fun playing along!
Student Book 1
White Knight (level one)
Yellow Knight (level 2)
Another video coming soon!
Orange Knight (level 3) green purple turquois blue
Green Knight (level 4)
Purple Knight (level 5)
Turquois Knight (level 6)
Blue Knight (level 7)
Send us your videos of Royal Recorders performances and perhaps we can post them here.
| Royal Recorders Product Options | 1. Student Book 1 (e-book) plus Accompaniment Tracks, 2. Student Book 2 (e-book) plus Accompaniment Tracks, 3. Student Bundle – Student Books 1 & 2, plus Accompaniment Tracks, 4. Accompaniment Tracks – for Student Book 1, 5. Accompaniment Tracks – for Student Book 2, 6. Accompaniment Tracks – Bundle, 7. Teacher Guide (e-book), 8. Teacher Bundle: Student Books 1&2, Teacher Guide, Tracks, Incentives, Tutorial Videos, 9. Tutorial Videos, 10. Student Incentives |
|---|---|
| License (Royal Recorders) | Single User License – Student Book 1, Small School / Studio License – Student Book 1, Large School / Studio License – Student Book 1, Single User License – Student Book 2, Small School / Studio License – Student Book 2, Large School / Studio License – Student Book 2, Single User License – Student Bundle, Small School / Studio License – Student Bundle, Large School / Studio License – Student Bundle, User License – Accompaniment Tracks – Student Book 1, User License – Accompaniment Tracks – Student Book 2, User License – Accompaniment Tracks – Bundle, Single User License – Teacher Guide, Classroom / Studio License – Teacher Guide, Single User License – Teacher Bundle, Small School / Studio License – Teacher Bundle, Large School / Studio License – Teacher Bundle, User License – Tutorial Videos, User License – Student Incentives |
| Context | Classroom Songs, Small Group Class, Teaching Songs / Pedagogy, Composing, Music Pedagogy, Song Set |
| Level | Age 12 and under, Age 9 and up, Age 10 and up, Grades 4-5, Grades 4-6 |
| Composer | Donna Rhodenizer |
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.